Visitors who walk the Three Peaks in the Yorkshire Dales National Park are being asked to help shape future conservation plans.

A survey has been launched to try to identify why and how people come to the area and what problems they find as they hike up and down Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough.

Steve Hastie, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s Area Ranger and Three Peaks Project Manager, said: “Roughly 250,000 walkers come here every year to scale the summits and soak up the beauty of the landscape.

“They have a huge impact on the network of footpaths and on the flora and fauna, as well as the local community, and our priority is always to try to lessen that impact and bring about positive benefits as much as we can.

“To do that, we need to understand how and why people use the Three Peaks area and what improvements are needed from their point of view. Once we have this clearer picture, we will be able to plan for the future in a way that will help both the walkers and the environment.

Malcolm Petyt, the National Park Authority’s Member Champion for Recreation Management, said: “I hope everyone who walks all or some of the Three Peaks will take the time to fill in the survey and help us protect the area for future generations.”

The survey can be found at www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/threepeaks and everyone who completes it will be entered into a free draw with a chance to win a year’s membership to the Friends of the Three Peaks and exclusive merchandise.

Paths in 20 communities in the North York Moors National Park will be improved as a result of new funding.

The new scheme will offer up to £5k per project. Pic NYMNPA

The Community Access Project has received £113,445 from the North York Moors, Coast and Hills LEADER Programme and £28,361 from the National Park Authority.

One hundred community volunteers will be recruited and trained, to help improve footpaths and rights of way around and between communities.

Each scheme will benefit from up to £5,000 to improve signage,  promotion of routes, create better access for people with disabilities, install seating, manage vegetation and improve the surface conditions and drainage.

David Leyshon, Area Secretary of the North Yorkshire and South Durham Area of the Ramblers’ Association, said: “Better maintained ways around and between villages will provide a greater incentive to get out into the country and also to walk rather than get in the car. ”

The North York Moors, Coast and Hills LEADER Programme is a partnership of local organisations, community groups and individuals who have secured £3.1 million in total from Defra and the European Union through Yorkshire Forward and One North East as part of the Rural Development Programme for England.

For further information on the Community Access Project, contact Project Officer Martyn Williams via email m.williams@northyorkmoors-npa.gov.uk

This comprehensive website has over 9700 pages of walking information, including many walk descriptions, “Walking Britain” is dedicated to the footpaths that cross the landscape.

The National Parks feature strongly in the lists of walks including the Lake District, the Peak District and Snowdonia, not to mention the Yorkshire Dales.

Although the natural world is the theme, man-made elements such as villages, bridges, mines and churches are also included in the many walking routes.

Visit the Website.